diff --git a/jupyter_client/provisioning/local_provisioner.py b/jupyter_client/provisioning/local_provisioner.py
index 8abc1b84..f9bae5ff 100644
--- a/jupyter_client/provisioning/local_provisioner.py
+++ b/jupyter_client/provisioning/local_provisioner.py
@@ -186,8 +186,9 @@ async def pre_launch(self, **kwargs: Any) -> Dict[str, Any]:
                 km.hb_port = lpc.find_available_port(km.ip)
                 km.control_port = lpc.find_available_port(km.ip)
                 self.ports_cached = True
-
-            km.write_connection_file(jupyter_session=kwargs['env'].get("JPY_SESSION_NAME", ""))
+            if 'env' in kwargs:
+                jupyter_session = kwargs['env'].get("JPY_SESSION_NAME", "")
+            km.write_connection_file(jupyter_session=jupyter_session)
             self.connection_info = km.get_connection_info()
 
             kernel_cmd = km.format_kernel_cmd(